Implement for use in laying square tile



June 23, 1953 J. SCHELL JR 2,642,674

IMPLEMENT FOR USE IN LAYING SQUARE TILE Filed Sept. 1, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet l f" 1 :IIIIIIIIIIIIIIII IIIIIII IIIIIIIIIIIII IIIIIIII IfiII IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIICIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIE 2:11 0 I; a L 9 Is r z e l a o a 1 a s 4 a 2 1 a '2 E 14 1/; I 5:; saunas 6x 6 Y E III III III III I I II III III III III III III III I III III IIIIII III III II E, l l LI I I [,I l LI I 2 I l M 40 e51 2 E I4 2: W 5: T: 16- B 55:; ml 5! II Id 9 E 3 2 g; I; w i2. 2 @JZ 16' 6:2; nmaoum I; 5 1: E E- a I III 1 I a I. I ii eo' sz'i zzzssc; I|I|I|||||l|||ll lllllh IIIIIIIIIZIIIIIIIIIIIIII lIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII! W0 1 max, 12

ATTORNEY June 23, 1953 w. J SCHELL, JR

iHPLENENT FOR USE IN-LAYING SQUARE TILE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sapt. l, 1950 ASL Z \g. V S r INVENTOR Mil/ant [Sr/tell; J1. BY g. Q.

' ATTORNE Patented June 23, 1953 IMPLEMENT FOR Us r IN LAYING SQUARE T E William J. Schell, J r., Jersey City, N. .1.

Application September 1, 1950, Serial No. 182,847

4 Claims.

The present invention relates to the art of laying square tile, and more particularly, to an implement for use in laying such tile.

Where square tile is laid parallel or perpendicularly with respect to a marginal straight edge, such as a wall, bounding the zone in which the tile is laid, an unfilled rectangular space frequently is left between the last laid whole tile the marginal edge, which space is of a smaller area than that of the tile being laid. This necessitates that a tile be severed to provide a part which fits into such space. To accomplish the common practice has been to butt a tile against the wall in overlapping relation to the last laid tile, score a line across the last laid tile at the overlapping edge of the tile butted against the wall, removing the last laid tile, and severing it along the line to provide a part equal in area to the space to be filled, substituting a whole tile for the last laid tile, and laying the severed part in the space.

Where square tile is laid diagonally to the wall, an unfilled space is left between last laid whole tiles, which space may be triangular or generally rectangular with a triangular portion removed. Such spaces frequently are difiicult to fill, particularly when the space is of greater or smaller area than that of a part provided by cutting a whole tile diagonally across opposite corners.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to greatly simplify the laying of square tile and to eliminate the prior difiiculties in fitting a part of a whole tile in the space between the last laid tile or tiles and the wall or marginal edge bounding the zone in which the tile is laid.

Another object is to provide a simple, practical implement for readily determining the size and shape of the part of tile to be fitted into the space.

Another object is to provide such an implement which is economical in construction.

Another object is to provide such an implement which can be utilized in connection with laying square tile of a number of standard sizes parallel with, perpendicular to, or diagonal to the marginal edge.

Another object is to provide such an implement which does not require any great skill on the part of the user.

A further object is to provide such an implement which is particularly adapted for use in laying square floor tile formed of asphalt, rubber,

linoleum, ceramic material, wood, or cellulosic or plastic material, although it is likewise adapted for laying square or rectangular tile, blocks or the like on ceilings or walls.

Other and further objects will be obvious upon an understanding of the illustrative embodiment about to be described, or will be indicated in the appended claims, and various advantages not referred to herein will occur to one skilled in the art upon employment of the invention in practice.

In accordance with the invention the foregoing objects can be accomplished by providing an implement so constructed that it is adapted for use in determining the size and shape of the piece of a whole tile to be fitted in the space by first superposing a. whole tile on the last laid tile, and abutting the implement against the wall or aligning one edge thereof with the aforementioned marginal edge with a proper edge of the implement extending across the superposed tile to determine a line parallel to and spaced from the marginal edge at which the superposed tile is to be severed.

A preferred embodiment of the invention has been chosen for purposes of illustration and de scription as is shown in the accompanying drawing, forming a part of the specification, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of an implement in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 2 is an end elevational view of the implement shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan view, illustrating a modified implement.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 4-4 on Fig. 3.

Figs. 5 to 9 are schematic plan views illustrating the use of the device in connection with laying square tiles of several sizes both in parallelperpendicular and in diagonal arrangement.

Referring to the drawings in detail and more particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, there is shown an implement comprising a generally rectangular plate In, a manually engageable handle H extending upwardly from and secured to the upper surface of the plate at about the middle thereof, and feet, each comprising a nut l2 having a closed, rounded end and a screw I3, at the lower surface of the plate adjacent one edge thereof.

The plate i0 is so constructed and dimensioned that it is adapted to be used in laying square tile of various given dimensions both in parallel and diagonal arrangement. For example, the plate, as shown in Fig. 1, is primarily arranged for use in laying square tiles having widths of 9 and 12 units of length in parallel relation, and for laying square tiles having widths of 6 and 9 units of length in diagonal relation. The plate is al- 50 adapted to be used for laying square tiles hav- In order to lay 12 by 12 tile in parallel relation, Y 7 the plate has a pair of straight edges A and B at parallel sides thereof spaced apart 12 units -of I length.

In order to lay 9 by 9 tile in parallel relation, the plate has a slot I l formed therein which is face from being soiled by cement, while the edge B extends across the superposed tile and defines the portion of the tile P, represented by the shaded area. A line or mark is made along the edge B on the superposed tile which is then removed and severed to provide the part P. The part P is then cemented in the space S making the tile come ,out even with the wall or boundary W.

V In Fig. *6, the laying of 9 by 9 tile in parallel relation is illustrated. The same procedure is followed as described in connection with Fig. 5, except that the line or mark defining the area P is'made along the edge C.

In Fig. 7, the use of the device for laying tiles inparallelrelation having widths evenly divisible "into 12 units of length is illustrated. For example,

provided with a straight edge C parallel to the edge A and spaced therefrom a distanceof 9 units of length.

In order to lay 9 by 9 tile in diagonal relation,

the plate has a pair of straight edgesD and E at parallel sides thereof spaced apart 9 /2 units of length.

Inorder to lay .6 by 6 tile in .diagonal relation, the plate has aslot 15 .formed therein which is provided with a straight edge F parallel to the edge .13 and spaced therefrom a distance of 6 /2 units of length.

The various edges in addition tohavinglegend A, B, C, D and F respectively applied thereto to readily identify the same, have numerical indicia represented in units of length to facilitate use of the implement. Also, to readily .identif y the slots I 4 and I5 and to associate them mentally with the purpose they are provided for, the slot Id has ends parallel to each other or in otherwords perpendicular to the straight edge C, and the slot 15 has endsdiagonal to the straight edge F.

In Figs. 3 and 4, a modified implement is shown wherein the-plate ID has a pair of extension memapart a distance equal to l2\/2 units of length whereby these edges may be used in laying 12 by 12 tile in diagonal relation.

The various manners in which the implement is used in laying tile to measure and provide a piece or portion of a tile of an area less than .a

whole tile is shown in Figs. 5 to 9. In these views,

W represents awall or boundary of the zone in which the tile is laid, Y the next-to-last laid, tile, Z the last laid tile, S .the space between .thelast laid tile Z and the wall W which is of smaller area than a whole tile, and? the portion .of tile to be severed from a whole tile and fittedinto'the space S,

In Fig. 5, the laying of 12 by 12 tile in parallel relation is illustrated. After the last laid tile .2

is cemented in place, a tile is superposed thereon and the edge A of the implement NJ is butted against the wall W. The .feet 12 rest on the ,sur-

face to be covered-and by being about equal to two thicknesses of tile serve to'level the plateand at the same timespace vit'a'loove the surface .to .be

' covered and thereby prevent the underside sur-,

in laying 6 by 6 tile, a tile is superposed on the next-.to-last laid tile Y and the edge B is utilized to define the portion P on this superposed title, which portion thereafter is fitted and secured in the space S.

In Fig. 8, the laying of 6 by 6 tile in diagonal relation is illustrated. A tile is superposed on last laid tile Z and the edge B of the implement is butted against the wall W with the edge F of slot 15 defining the line along which this tile is to be severed to provide the portion P. In this instance, the feet I2, 13 are removed from adjacent the edge A .and placed in openings [9 adjacent the edge B, in other words, the feet should always be present in the space S being measured. As noted from the drawing, the space S is triangular and the portion P is triangular and of equal area whereby the portion .P can be accurately fitted into thespaces.

It will be understood, without further illustration, that the edges B and F can also be utilized for laying tile in diagonal relationhaving a width evenly divisible into 6 units of length. For example, in laying 3 'by'3 tile, a tile issuperposed on the next-to-last laid tile and the edge F is utilized to define the portion P on this superposed tile.

In Fig. 9, the laying of .9 by 9 tile in diagonal relation is illustrated utilizing the implement shown in Figs. '3 and 4. There the edges G are butted against the wall Wand the edge A defines the portion'P. Alternatively, the edges 1) and E could be utilized. The layingof 4.5 by 4.5 tile in diagonal relation can be accomplished by severing the portion Pfrom a tilesuperposed on the next-to-last laid tile.

'It will alsolbeunderstood that in laying 12 by 12 tile the implement would be used in the same manner, as shown in Fig. 9, except that the extensnin members 16 would provide ,a distance of .l2 /2 units of length between-the edges A and .G.

In laying tile in diagonal relation, it will be observed that the distance between the wall and the indexing edge for defining the portion P is equal to the maximum diagonal dimension of the tile being laid. For example, for 3 by 3, 6 by 6, 9 by 9 .and 12 by 12 tile this diagonal .distance would be 3V5, 6 2 9V5 and l2 respectively.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that the present invention provides a simple-practical and usefu1 implement adapted to beutilized in connection with the laying of square tile of .a plurality of standard sizes, either in parallel or diagonal relation. No high degree of skill is required to utilize the implement whereby theend spaces can be accurately filled-even by unskilled orinexperiencedpersons.

.As various changes may be .made in the form, construction and arrangement .of the parts herein, without departing from the spirit and scope oi the invention and without sacrificing any of its advantages, it is to be understood that all matters herein are to be interpreted as illustrative and not in any limiting sense.

What is claimed is;

1. An implement for use in laying square tile of given dimensions, comprising a generally rectangular plate having a pair of straight edges at parallel sides thereof spaced apart a distance equal to the width of a given size of tile and having a second pair of straight edges at parallel sides thereof spaced apart a distance equal to the maximum diagonal dimension of another size of tile, and fixed extension means on said plate at one of said edges of said first pair of edges providing a dimension between the free end of said extension means and said other straight edge of said first pair of straight edges equal to the distance between said second pair of straight edges.

2. An implement for use in laying square tile having Widths equal to 6, 9, and 12 units of length, comprising a generally rectangular plate having a pair of straight edges at parallel sides thereof spaced apart a distance equal to 12 units of length, said plate having a slot therein parallel to said straight edges providing a straight edge spaced from one of said first mentioned edges a distance equal to 9 units of length and having a second 6 slot therein parallel to said straight edges providing a straight edge spaced from the other of said first mentioned straight edges a distance equal to 6 /2 units of length, said plate having a second pair of straight edges at parallel sides thereof spaced a distance equal to 9\/2 units of length.

3. An implement according to claim 2, wherein said first slot has ends perpendicular to I its straight edge and said second slot has ends diagonal to its straight edge.

4. An implement according to claim 2, wherein said plate has fixed extension means at one edge of said first mentioned pair of edges providing a dimension between the free end of said extension means and said other edgg of said first mentioned pair of edges equal to 9 /2 units of length.

WILLIAM J. SCHELL, JR.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 703,928 Hutchinson July 1, 1902 904,823 Wellan Nov. 24, 1908 1,708,551 Nell Apr. 9, 1929 1,918,228 Spencer July 11, 1933 1,939,815 Hopkins et a1. Dec. 19, 1933 2,144,697 Zangrando Jan. 24, 1939 2,466,919 Sykes Apr. 12, 1949 

